Why Montessori?
We are often asked why Montessori education should be chosen over other traditional forms of preschool.
Montessori emphasis learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching or reading. Children are active participants in learning not passive. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own strengths. Learning becomes an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning.
Self-directed learning
The Montessori Method respects individual liberty of children to choose their own activities from a set of activities. This freedom allows children to follow their inner guidance for self-directed learning. The teacher’s role is to observe and guide children.
Work as play
Children learn through purposeful activities that they choose. We call these activities "work." Children use these activities to expand their minds and build skills. This also acknowledges the amount of effort that children spend learning and growing.
Multi-age grouping
Children learn from each other in a spontaneous manner that supports their independent self-directed activity. Our Montessori classroom therefore consists of opportunities for mixed-aged interaction. Younger children want to model behaviors of older children and older children get excited to teach their younger peers.
Individualized learning
The method of Montessori learning allows for more individualized learning at the pace of the student. Students are expected to master a concept before moving on to a harder concept, so children are allowed to learn at their own pace.
Do not tell them how to do it. Show them how to do it and do not say a word. If you tell them, they will watch your lips move. If you show them, they will want to do it themselves.
- Dr. Maria Montessori
Origins of Montessori
The Montessori Method was founded in early 1900s, by Dr. Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, and is most well known for developing and founding the Montessori methods. In 1907, she opened her first classroom in Rome in 1907 and by 1912 Montessori education spread to the United States. Currently there are over 22,000 Montessori schools in at least 110 countries around the world.
For more information visit American Montessori Society.
Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.
